Wire forming and feeding apparatus for wire tying machines and the like



2,789,495 s FOR April 23. 1957 T. R. sYKEs n WIRE FORMING AND FEEDING APPARATU WIRE TYING MACHINES AND THE LIKE 4 Shasta-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 3, 1952 |NVENTR Thomas. R'. 57 kes 1. R. sYKEs WIRE FoRMING lAND EEEDING APPARATUS FOR April 23, 1957 WIRE TYING MACHINES AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 3. 1952 INVENTOR Thomas R.L Sykes Apnl 23, 1957 T. R. SYKES y 2,789,495 WIRE FORMING AND FEEDING APPARATUS FOR WIRE TYING MACHINES AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 3, 1952 @o 'INVENTUR' y Thomas R. Svyks April 23, 1957 e T. R. sYKEs 2,789,495

- WIRE FORMING AND msnm@ APPARATUS Foa y WIRE TYING MACHINES'AND THE LIKE File'd Nov. 3, 1952 v 4 Sheets-Sheet. 4

35 --mmnl n l n 1 nu um m :NVVENTUR Thomas R- Sxkes United States Patent O WIRE FORMING AND FEEDING APPARATUS FOR WIRE TYING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Thomas R. Sykes, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, assigner to The Toronto Star Limited, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application November 3, 1952, Serial No. 318,391 5 Claims. (Cl. 10U-10) This invention relates to improvements in the means of handling wire particularly in wire-tying machines where the wire from a coil or supply is required to be straightened and fed at intervals to be folded around a bundle or package and then lap-welded or tied In the currently used wire-tying machines, such as illustrated in United States Patents 2,331,818, October 12, 1943, and 2,581,776, January 7, 1952, round wire is almost exclusively used because of its lower cost and less complicated feeding mechanism. With the wire round it can be pulled out from a coil rather than unwound from a reel as must be the case Where at wire is being fed, thus greatly simplifying the mechanism for uncoiling the wire. However, the wire must be straightened before being fed requiring a separate straightening mechanism, and when the round wire is folded about a package and the ends overlapped and welded, steps must be taken to prevent the top wire turning up due to welding and the unwelded wire end becomes a possible source of injury to personnel handling packages. Further, the wire is likely to become weakened during the welding operation caused by overheating due to a high current density through the overlapped portions required to get them to fuse.

Moreover, the round wire in addition to requiring a straightening mechanism further required a feeding mechanism which must be intermittently operated or clutched to start and stop to give interrupted wire feed.

Flat wire or band-tying machines are used but are primarily used for tying heavy packages or cartons.` The wire in these machines is supplied in the flattened state wound on reels or rolls, and in these cases it must be unwound by winding o a reel. Further, the flat wire is considerably more expensive than the round wire and its use is not therefore attractive. Again, straightening and feeding mechanisms are required in delivering the wire in an interrupted feed in condition to be tied.

The principal object of the present invention is to reduce a round wire drawn from a coil to a tlattened state while at the same time straightening and feeding the wire in its interrupted movement in a wire-tying machine.

A further object is to enable an increased number of ties to be effected from an original length of wire as compared to present machines to provide an important wire saving.

Still a further object is to condition the wire for a more eiective and easier weld or tie, reducing the current densities in the wire and the required capacity of the welding equipment.

In its broadest aspect the invention resides in drawing round wire through an arrangement of wire-straightening guides and pairs of roll wheels mounted for relative separation, the wheels being forced together during wire feeds sufficient to feed and atten the wire, and being forced to part to terminate wire feed.

More particularly a further feature of the invention ICC resides in forming one of the wheels of a roll wheel pair with notches or indentations in its periphery whereby small spaced projections are formed on the wire as it is being attened on passing through the roll wheels, the projections forming a means to enable the wire ends when overlapped to be Welded down throughout the entire overlap with a comparatively small welding transformer suicient to give high current densities in the projections without overheating the body of the wire.

Still a further feature resides in rotating one pair of roll wheels at a greater speed than a preceding pair to elongate the wire while it is being flattened and workhardened with the elongated work-hardened wire of smaller cross section exhibiting equivalent strength in tension to the original round wire.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is an elevational view principally in diagrammatic form illustrating a wire-tying machine being fed with wire in accordance with the invention preparatory to making the tie.

Figure 2 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 1 but showing the tying operation.

Figure 3 is a Sectional view illustrating the welding jaws more-or-less diagrammatically in position to effect a tie.

Figure 4 is a part side elevational view, part vertical sectional view of the wire feeding and forming mechanism, shown in block form in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an end elevational view looking towards the right-hand end of the mechanism disclosed in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view on the line 6 6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view on the line 7 7 of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a plan View ofthe mechanism.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the upper portion of the mechanism of Figure 4 looking inwardly from the left-hand end of Figure 4.

Figure l0 is a front elevational view of the gearing.

With reference first to Figures l to 3, 1 represents a coil of round Wire which is to be straightened, formed and fed by a mechanism designated at 2 as elongated attened wire 3 formed with welding tips i to la tying machine generally designated as 5. This machine illustrated principally in diagrammatic form is shown similar to the machine fully disclosed in my United States Patent No. 2,624,270 of January 6, 1953 and is similar to the machines shown in United States Patents 2,331,818, October l2, 1943, and 2,581,776 of January 8, 1952.

Basically the machine comprises a ram 6 adapted to be depressed to engage a bundle or package 7, and folding slides 8 operated by air cylinders 9 adapted to fold the wire 3 around the package between the welding jaws 10 which are adapted to close on and grip the wire and through which a welding current is passed to weld the overlapped wire. The slides d operate between uprights 11 and facing bars 12 broken away in Figure l.

The wire 3 is suitably guided in grooves provided across the table 13 and upward movement of the slides 8 eiects folding of the wire up the sides of the package and lingers 14 and 15 carried by the slides 8 striking a ledge 16 of the ram are operated to overturn the wire above the package in position to be gripped by the welding jaws 10.

The actual mechanism for atfording the folding and the welding does not in itself constitute part of this invention, and further details are not deemed necessary.

Referring to Figure 3, it will be seen that the Wire portions 3a and 3b which overlap are separated by the tips 4 struck up on the wire and that welding current flowing between the welding jaws or electrodes 10 must pass through these tips. The result is a high current density at' the points 4 to effect a weld of the wire at these points without an excessive current density in the body of the wire portions 3a and 3b. The result is that damage to the body of the wire due to over-heating is eliminated to prevent a source of rupture of the wire under stress. Additionally, with the wire in a attened state and with the welding along the wire at the tips l a weld from end-toend of the overlap may be effected to eliminate any upturned wire end, which would constitute a hazard to personnel.

Even if a portion of the overlapped wire should project beyond the electrodes it still does not constitute a serious hazard as it is in a attened state and is held to the adjoining wire portion by the adjacent weld connections of the tips 4.

To facilitate the welding the lower of the jaws 10 is provided with a groove 17 to receive. the welding tips of the lower wire portion 3b.

By providing a flattened wire 3 the handling of this wire in the tie is greatly facilitated, and by provision of the tips 4 the welding is greatly simplified enabling a smaller transformer and simpler welding equipment to be used which can readily produce suflicient current density in lthe restricted wire areas afforded by the tips 4.

At the same time the ability to draw the wire out from a coil 1 enables wire of initial low cost and simplified feeding mechanism to be used.

The mechanism 2, which enables the production of the wire 3 from the coiled round wire 1, is shown in detail in Figures 4 to l0. j

Referring first to Figures 7 and l0, the feed device comprises a generally channel-shaped housing 18 in which is mounted a drive shaft 19 on suitable bearings 20 in the walls of the housing. A cap 21 encloses the right-hand bearing 20, Figure 7.

Mounted on the shaft 19 is a gear 22 which meshes with a gear 23 mounted on a shaft 24 again carried in journals 25 mounted in the walls of the housing 18. Mounted on shaft 24 is a gear 26 which meshes with a gear 27 carried on a roll wheel shaft 28 which carries a roll wheel 29.

Mounted on a plate 30 bolted 4to a block 31 for adjustment, as provided by slots 32, Figures 6 and 10, is a stud shaft 33 which carries a gear 34 meshing with the gear 27. Rotatable on shaft 33 and keyed to gear 34 is a gear, 35 which meshes with a gear 36 carried by a roll wheel shaft 37 on which is mounted a roll wheel 38. The roll wheel shafts 28 and 37 are mounted in suitable bearings 39 supported. in sleeves 39" carried by a laterally offset frame of U cross section comprising one wall 118 forming an extension of the wall of the housing 18, a spaced Wall 11S', and a bottom plate 100. The sleeves 39 extend transversely of the U or channel frame and beyond the walls 118 and 118 thel sleeves carry end discs 119.

Referring to Figures 4 and 8, the walls 11S and 11S of the channel frame carry spaced upstanding lugs 4S and 41 respectively between which is journalled on a pin 44 a frame of U cross section comprising side walls or plates 42 and a top plate 43.

Journalled in bearings 45 arranged within sleeves 45 carried by the walls 42 are roll wheel shafts 46 and 47 shown in Figures 7 and 6 respectively. Again the sleeves 45' extend transversely of the U-frame, and beyond the walls 42 the sleeves carry end' discs 120.

Mounted on the roll wheel shaft 46 is a gear 50 engaging gear 51 carried on the roll wheel shaft 28. Mounted on roll wheel shaft 47 is a gear 52 which meshes with the gear 36 mounted on roll wheel shaft 3'7.

Thus it will be seen that the drive shaft 19, which. may be driven by any suitable source, elects through the gear train 23, 26 and 27, the rotation of the roll wheel 29 and through gears 51 and. 50,. which are. of

equal size, the rotation in the opposite direction at the same speed as the roll wheel 29, the roll wheel 4S. At the same time through the gear train 22, 23, 27', 34, 35 and 36 the rotation of roll wheel 38 is effected.

Rotation of roll wheel 49 is obtained through gears 36 and 52 which are of the same size to drive the roll wheel 49 at the same speed as and in opposition to the roll wheel 3S.

Since both the gear trains involved for driving roll wheels 29 and 48 and 38 and 49 are driven off the gear 27, the relative speed of the roll wheels 38 and 49 to the speed of the roll wheels 29 and 48 depends upon the relation of the gears 3dand 35 which drive the roll wheel shaft 37 through the gear 36 at a speed differing from the speed of the roll wheel shaft 28 on which the gear 27 is mounted.

The gears 34 and 35 may be changed to provide the desired relative speed differential between roll wheel shafts 2 3 and 37 and the provision for the adjustment of the stud shaft 33 carried by plate 3i) enables this gear replacement. The size of the gears 34 and 35 are such as to operate the roll wheel shafts 37 and 47' at a higher speed than the roll wheel shafts 2B and t6 to provide an elongation of the wire, as hereinafter described.

The periphery of the roll wheel 11i-9 is formed with notches 53 whch in turn provide the tips 4 on the wire 3, as hereinafter described.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, carried by the housing 18 is a shallow cylinder 54 in which operates a piston 55 having a sealing ring 55. The piston rod 57 comprises a bolt having a reduced neck 55 on which the piston 55 is received and carrying stop nuts 59 adapted to engage a boss 6l) to control downward movement of the piston. The piston rod 57' operates through a packing 61 and carries a stop nut 63 and has threaded therein a threaded reduced extension 62 on which is received a lock nut 64. A spring 65 acts through a plate 66 to urge piston 55 upwardly. A compressed air feed 67 communicating with the interior of the cylinder 54 is adapted to introduce compressed air depress the piston 55 to move stop nuts 59 down against boss 6l).

The upper end of the extension 62 has a head 63 providing a round neck-*69 engaging a concaved opening l0 in a transverse bar 71 mounted between the walls 42 of the upper U-frame to provide a universal type joint. An adjustable member 72 carried by the head 68 is adapted to engage the top plate 133 of the pivotal frame.

The operation ofy piston 55 is such that, under the introduction of compressed air to the cylinder 5d, piston rod 57 is drawn downwardly to force the upper pair of roll wheels 48 and 49 downwardly towards the lower pair of roll wheels 29 and 3S to flatten the wire introduced between these roll Wheels. Upon release of the compressed air in cylinder 54 spring 65 is adapted to force piston rod 57 upwardly to swing the pivotal frame upwardly to a position indicated by the dotted line 2% in Figure 4, to clear the upper roll wheel pair from engagement with the wire to allow the wire to rest freely on the rotating lower roll wheels 29 and 38.

Thus in operation the wire 3 is brought out from the coil 1 between straightening rolls 73, Figure 4, and through a guide orifice 74 in the left-hand lug {it} of Figure 5 which pivotally supports the frame 412-433. This orifice 74 preferably terminates in a nozzle 75 which delivers the wire between the first pair of roll wheels 29 and 43. The wire then passes through a guide 75 mounted on a transverse bar 77 so that it can be adjusted to feed accurately between the roll wheels 3S and 49.

The wire when introduced between the first set of roll wheels 29 and 48 is gripped thereby and advanced with the pivotal frame l- 43 forced downwardly by introduction of compressed air into the cylinder 55d.

The downward movement of the pivotal frame and theldiameter ofA these roll wheels will also determine the flattening effect produced on the wire. Thus this first roll pair produces a flattening action as well as advancing the wire to the second roll pair in the initial stage of wire feed.

The second roll pair comprising roll wheels 38 and 49 affords a further compressing action as well as feeding the wire to its ultimate destination. Additionally, since the second roll wheel pair is being driven at a higher speed than the first roll wheel pair, an elongation of the wire takes place between the section lines 6 6 and 7 7 of Figure 4. This drawing action effects a working of the wire which, in addition to the compression afforded by the roll wheel pairs, provides a Wire of elongated and reduced section, at the left of Figure 4, which is work-hardened to a point where the increased strength afforded by the working at least compensates for the reduction in cross section due to elongation.

The notches 53 in the roll wheel 49 permit the metal of the wire to form up into the tips 4 under the compressing action. Again the pressure between the rolls as controlled by the piston 55 and the diameter of the wheels determines the size of these projections or tips 4. Thus with the pivotal frame 42-43 depressed the roll wheels serve as a feeding mechanism, a forming mechanism, providing both a flattening and a tip formation, and a wire elongating mechanism as well as a Wire work-hardening mechanism.

Upon release of air pressure in the cylinder 54 the spring 65 effects an upward movement of the pivotal frame, releasing the upper rolls 48 and 49 from wire engagement, allowing the wire to lie on the revolving lower rolls.

The air circuit controlling the movement of the piston is adapted to operate from the controls of the machine S to effect feed while the wire is being measured to suit the package 7 in accordance with the machine operation and to terminate feed after advance of the requisite wire length. As the details of this mechanism do not form part of the present invention the associated machine air circuit and electrical controls are omitted from the illustrations.

For purposes of mounting the device a mounting bar 121 is secured by suitable bolts 122 at one side of the housing 18 to the lug 40 and through a spacer 123 to the side wall 118 of the lower U-frame.

Although a wire feeding and forming mechanism as aforesaid may have different beneficial applications, it is of particular importance in a wire tying machine and it will be appreciated that it simplifies the wire handling while using the inexpensive coil of round wire, and at the same time the elongation of the wire in the flattening operation affords appreciable wire saving.

It will be understood that variations in structural detail may be made within the scope of the appended claims, and the numbers of the roll pairs may be varied from the simplified arrangement of the dual pair.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a wire tying machine, in combination a support surface, means for conforming a length of flat wire about an object placed on said support surface, means for fastening the ends of the wire together, a wire flattening mechanism for delivering a length of flattened wire from a coil of round wire to the wire conforming means, and means controlling said wire flattening mechanism to effect attening of a requisite wire length.

2. In a wire tying machine for conforming the requisite length of wire about an object to be tied, the combination of a support surface, means for conforming a predetermined length of fiat wire about an object placed on said support surface, means for fastening the ends of the wire length together, a wire flattening mechanism for drawing off and flattening round wire from a coil and delivering the flattened wire to said wire conforming means, and means for controlling said wire flattening mechanism to flatten a length of round wire corresponding to the wire length required to encircle the object.

3. In a wire tying machine, for conforming the requisite length of wire about an object to be tied, the combination of a support surface, means for conforming a predetermined length of flat wire about an object placed on said support surface, means for fastening the ends of the wire together, a flattening mechanism for withdrawing a round wire from a coil, flattening and straightening same, and feeding the attened wire to said wire conforming means, and means for operating said flattening mechanism to withdraw, flatten and feed the requisite wire length.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 in which said withdrawing, flattening and feeding means comprises a pair of pressure rolls mounted for relative movement into and out of wire compressing relation and being movable into and out of wire compressing relation by said operating means in accordance with wire feed requirements.

5. In a wire tying machine for conforming the requisite length of wire about an object to be tied, the combination of a support surface for receiving an object to be tied, means for conforming a length of flat wire about an object on said support surface, means for fastening the ends of the wire together, means supporting a coil of round Wire, means for drawing off, flattening, and straightening wire from said coil, and feeding the fiattened wire to said conforming means, and means actuated in accordance with the operation of said wire conforming means for controlling said draw olf, attening, straightening, and feeding means to draw off, atten, straighten, and feed to said wire conforming means, preparatory to the wire conforming operation thereof, a wire length in accordance v with the length of wire required to encircle the object.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 191,875 McKenzie June 12, 1877 616,092 Eynon Dec. 20, 1898 838,781 Forsberg Dec. 18, 1906 1,448,371 Baehr Mar. 13, 1923 1,467,880 Roemer Sept. 11, 1923 1,562,488 Baehr Nov. 24, 1925 1,776,775 Biggert Sept. 30, 1930 1,805,791 Treat May 19, 1931 1,862,107 Brueckner et al. June 7, 1932 1,868,182 Sullivan July 19, 1932 1,988,930 Winne Jan. 22, 1935 2,036,101 Rohn Mar. 31, 1936 2,089,892 Greulich Aug. 10, 1937 2,191,441 Campbell Feb. 27, 1940 2,331,818 Wallace Oct. 12, 1943 2,409,652 Workman Oct. 22, 1946 2,624,270 Sykes Jan. 6, 1953 2,643,559 Schenerman June 30, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 110,525 Switzerland July 1, 1925 

